Bishop John Myers

Current Posts: Bishop of Peoria, Ill.; board of governors, Pope John Center for the Study of Ethics in Healthcare, Boston, Mass.; NCCB's Canonical Affairs Committee; various other bishops’ committees.

Background: Born in Ottawa, Ill., 1941, the oldest of seven children; educated in Rome at North American College and Gregorian University; ordained in 1966; earned doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, 1977; consecrated bishop Sept. 3, 1987; coadjutor bishop of Peoria until acceding to that diocese's See, Jan. 23, 1990.

Episcopal motto: “Let the mystery of the Church shine forth.”

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis